Thursday, August 22, 2013

Oh FFS! The Finale

Back in the beginning of August, I wrote about how I had gotten a letter upon returning from our vacation which stated that our current insurance, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan had "recouped all previously paid claims stating "other primary insurance," and that I owed my doctor's office $1,828.

Cue head explosion.

One day between then and now, Keegan called up BC/BS to see what was up. Apparently, after I had used my Coventry Insurance, which I have from my dad, for my HSG, BC/BS realized that I had other insurance (which I had told them before!), decided it should be my primary, and kicked back all previously paid claims.

Le sigh.

I finally got the chance (and to be honest, the courage; does anyone else hate talking to insurance people?) to call Coventry yesterday. After the whole name, phone number, address talk, the lovely man from Coventry asked if I had any other insurance. Apparently, even though I had also previously told them I do, it failed to get into my file. After giving them my info from BC/BS, Lovely Man said, "well, since we've been covering you longer, we're your primary insurance," to which I responded, "Yes, I've recently learned that the hard way."

(Can I just say that Coventry's explanation of being my primary because they've been covering me longer is way better than BC/BS' reason? BC/BS told Keegan that Coventry is my primary because my dad's birth month is before Keegan's. Not birth year, birth month. If Keegan had been born in a month before my dad, then this wouldn't have been a problem, according to BC/BS.)

After all was said and done, Lovely Coventry Man told me that I just needed my doctor's office to re-submit the claims to Coventry, and everything should be taken care of. After a quick call to Dr. B's office, the claims should be on their way to Coventry in the near future.

So, while I'm glad we've gotten everything sorted out, I won't stop holding my breath until I get a bill of $0. I don't have the $1,828 that I owe from BC/BS and I also don't have the $4,000 my HSG will cost if for some reason it's denied due to this whole mix up.

So, lovelies, the moral of the story is, if you have two insurances, don't be a dingbat like me and make sure you know which should be your primary. It'll save you a whopper of a headache.

12 comments:

  1. MMMM double coverage. No copays.. I'm drooling. Hassle or not it sounds worth it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It would be worth it if either of them covered anything! The whole reason we had to use Coventry for my HSG is because BC/BS doesn't cover anything infertility related, but Coventry would cover the HSG if it was for diagnostic reasons only.

      That being said, I am extremely grateful that I have insurance at all. I have gotten blood draws covered and lower payments on medications because of the insurance which certainly helps. I do have to pay copays though :P

      Delete
    2. So far thus year we've paid around $2k out of pocket for blood tests and my knee dislocation. If we didn't have insurance I don't know what we would have done. I just wish it covered more.

      Delete
  2. Replies
    1. You and me both! Thankfully I think everything is figured out now. Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  3. wow stressful! i am so glad that there was a somewhat "easy" explanation to it all! here is hoping for that $0 bill!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm glad you were able to get things somewhat straightened out! Insurance was SUCH a nightmare even once I did have coverage, so I can sympathize.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't understand why they have to be so difficult about everything! They're dealing with hormonal women, you'd think they would have learned by now to be a bit nicer.

      Delete
  5. Ugh Insurance companies make my brain hurt. Im on hold with mine right now trying to sort out my new deductibles.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope that everything turns works out with your deductibles!

      Delete
  6. Here from ICLW. What a nightmare. I hope it all gets sorted out smoothly. Right now it's just my husband who has insurance, but eventually when I have separate coverage, we'll have to sort all of this out too, as there are crazy complicated rules about when you are meant to send what claim to which company.

    ReplyDelete